Kenwood opens season ready to meet its expectations

Kenwood’s multifaceted roster has always been a key to the team’s success. Last year, the Broncos were able to score in a variety of ways. Their guards relentlessly attacked the paint and sprayed passes to shooters, and their post players were able to dominate the glass.

But this year, the Broncos will attempt to combine that talent with experience. Kenwood coach Andre Lewis has coached many talented players over his tenure as the Broncos’ coach. This year’s team combines talent with experience.

“This is the oldest group that I've ever had,” Lewis said. “ This group has been together for years so they get it, they respect each other and they take criticism from each other.”

The Broncos have seven seniors and five juniors on the roster. They return the majority of a roster that went 25-9.The Broncos are usually battle-tested, the result of a rigorous and challenging non-conference schedule that Lewis has them play and this year isn’t any different.

Facing challenging competition will expose the team to adversity, but the Broncos are ready to face those tests head on. Champions are built through those strenuous moments.

“I'm really looking forward to just meeting expectations,” senior forward Diann Jackson said. “Last year, I feel like we didn't really meet expectations.”

Kenwood lost in the city championship to Young, and to Nazareth in the super-sectionals. Having the bulk of the players return is critical to the Broncos’ success because they don’t have to get multiple up to speed to their standard.

Senior guard Ariella Henigan returns. Henigan, a four-year varsity player, has experienced virtually every scenario at the high school level. She’s been the freshman trying to carve out a role to now being the established veteran leading the team.

Jackson played for Puerto Rico in the FIBA U-18 Women’s AmeriCup, averaging 8.2 points and 9.5 rebounds. Jackson tore her meniscus last summer, which led to her having knee pain throughout the season as she distanced herself from the injury. She said playing for the national team imbued her with the confidence she needed to move past the injury.

“One goal I really have for us is to go undefeated,” Jackson said. “I'm really looking forward to going undefeated this year and winning it all.’

But to go undefeated will take more than a talented group, though the Broncos have a ton of it. Stringing together long winning streaks requires a buy-in from every player on the roster. It requires each player to be a star in their role.

“Staying connected,” said London Walker-George, who transferred from DePaul Prep. “When you’re a team and you can all agree to be one, play as one and be happy for each other's success, that's going to always be the way to success.”

The Broncos’ depth stands out. Walker-George transferred to Kenwood to be pushed and challenged. Having been the No. 1 option at DePaul Prep, she understands the immense responsibility it takes to be the leader of a team. Though she can score, Walker-George prefers to make the extra pass and corral rebounds. Jackson described her as the “core of the group.”

Junior guard Danielle Brooks is a superb scorer and will take on a larger ballhandling role this season. Senior guard Icesis Thomas transferred to Kenwood last season and will play a big role defensively for the Broncos. Lewis said that Thomas “is going to be big for us on defense because she's the best communicator. She is willing to always have her teammates back defensively. She led us in charges taken last year.”

The road to state glory will be a bumpy path. The Broncos’ success will be determined by how they respond to adversity they will inevitably face.

“We have the pieces that we need to win and achieve all the goals that we have: win city and state,” Henigan said.